Abstract Art Award Winner

Esports is celebrating.

The film's box office performance was a resounding success.

At the same time, another major work in which he starred last year, "The Age of Awakening," was also broadcast on CCTV-1's prime time slot after careful preparation.

Normally, this type of TV series wouldn't get very high viewership.

But Awakening Era became an instant hit as soon as it was released.

And it's a massive explosion.

The online response was unprecedentedly enthusiastic, and the drama completely shattered people's stereotypes about typical patriotic dramas.

With its excellent production, cinematic quality, profound themes, and vivid character portrayals, it has successfully captivated audiences of all ages.

In particular, the portrayal of historical figures such as Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao, Hu Shi, and Lu Xun breaks free from stereotypical depictions, delicately and realistically showcasing their passion, hesitation, struggle, and determination as pioneers of thought.

They are no longer cold names and symbols in textbooks, but vivid individuals with flesh and blood and full of emotions.

Zhou Le's portrayal of Li Dazhao has undoubtedly become the focus of heated discussions among viewers.

Before the broadcast, some people were still a little worried.

They don't deny Zhou Le's acting skills, but Zhou Le's face and image simply don't remind them of Mr. Li Dazhao.

They worried whether the young Zhou Le could handle the weighty image of "Mr. Shouchang," a pioneer of the Chinese communist movement and a great Marxist.

However, these doubts quickly dissipated after the series aired.

"Zhou Le's portrayal of Li Dazhao is both lifelike and expressive! Especially his eyes, they are so deep and resolute. I only watched the first few episodes before commenting, and honestly, they are amazing!" an excited viewer commented on social media.

Such comments are not uncommon, with many viewers expressing that they could see the inner brilliance and revolutionary passion of Mr. Li Dazhao.

"He brought to life the spirit of Mr. Li Dazhao, who 'shouldered the responsibility of upholding justice and wrote brilliant articles'! His dialogue in the Peking University Library, his passion for preaching Marxism on the street, and his composure in the face of enemy threats... It was so moving!" another audience member commented.

"I used to think Zhou Le was an idol and a talented actor, but now I have to add the word 'artist' to that! His acting skills are so mature and mature, it's not like an actor of his age at all." Some viewers even praised Zhou Le's acting skills as godlike.

"Zhou Le in 'The Age of Awakening' and Zhou Le in 'Fame and Fortune' are practically two different people! Is this what they call a 'chameleon-like' face?"

Viewers discovered that Zhou Le could switch freely between different roles, each with its own unique charm and temperament, making it impossible to recognize the shadow of his previous character.

It could be the explosives in the Sewing Machine Band.

It could be Lü Shouyi from the movie "Dying to Survive".

It could also be a cowardly policeman who becomes famous far and wide.

It could be Fan Xian from the TV series "Joy of Life".

Today, it could also be Li Dazhao.

Of course, amidst the praise, there were also some dissenting voices.

For example, some people think that Zhou Le could be more restrained in certain emotional outburst scenes, or that he looks somewhat different from Li Dazhao in historical photos.

But overall, the praise was overwhelming.

Zhou Le thought those who disagreed were just bragging.

Are you kidding me? Do you think I don't know whether I acted well or not?
If that's the case, then who can give a perfect performance?

Isn't it easy to find fault?

Chaplin was still playing Chaplin and came in second place in the competition.

As the series became a hit, Zhou Le and Yu Hewei, who played Chen Duxiu in the series, were invited to participate in a high-end cultural interview program.

The atmosphere at the recording site was solemn yet relaxed.

The host first asked Yu Hewei, "Mr. Hewei, how many times have you played Mr. Chen Duxiu? What new experiences have you had this time?" Yu Hewei smiled, pushed up his glasses, and said, "It is indeed the third time. Each time brings new pressure, but also new gains."

"The Awakening Age" focuses more on portraying him as an enlightener and a microcosm of the intellectuals of that era, with more complex emotions and a greater attention to detail.

The content is very well said.

It really highlights my skill level.

The host then asked Zhou Le, "Zhou Le, this is your first time playing a historical figure like Mr. Li Dazhao. You must have felt a lot of pressure, right? How did you prepare for and get closer to this role?"

Zhou Le sat upright and answered earnestly, “The pressure was immense, so much so that I couldn’t sleep soundly for several months before filming began. My method was rather clumsy: I tried to read as many of Mr. Zhou’s works, letters, and biographies as possible to understand the historical context of his life and to grasp the essence of his thought. I believe that one must first understand his philosophy in order to portray his soul. It’s not enough to just imitate his appearance and movements; one must also enter his heart.”

Yu Hewei nodded and added, "Zhou Le is very hardworking. When we were on set, we often saw him studying the script by himself and consulting with the history consultant. His seriousness really touched me."

The host then asked a pointed question: "Some people on the internet feel that casting an actor like you, who has a large number of young fans, as a revolutionary pioneer is a compromise to attract traffic?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Le showed no displeasure. Instead, he revealed a gentle yet firm smile and said, "I think this is precisely a good thing. If my participation can encourage more young viewers to learn about that period of history and to understand the ideals that Mr. Li Dazhao and his comrades fought for, then that would be my greatest honor as an actor."

Traffic shouldn't be a derogatory term; the key is what it carries. If traffic can guide people to focus on history and think about the future, then it's used effectively.

He paused, then continued clearly and forcefully: "We are interpreting this history not to dwell on the past, but to let people today, especially young people, understand where we come from, where our roots are, and what kind of people once shouted, struggled, and even sacrificed for this land beneath our feet. This is the spiritual bloodline of the Chinese people, which we need to pass on from generation to generation."

These words are very powerful!
Not only did it cleverly answer the question, it also elevated the scope of the topic.

After all, Zhou Le is genuinely not worried about the overall situation.

Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, he has long since mastered this skill.

You don't need to write down polite phrases beforehand; they just come out naturally.

Just as "The Age of Awakening" was airing, Zhou Le received another call from Zhang Yimou.

The 15th Asian Film Awards are being held in Busan, South Korea, and they are going to attend.

Zhou Le received a Best Actor nomination for his outstanding performance in "Cliff Walkers," and the film was also nominated for several important awards, including Best Film and Best Director.

Zhou Le, along with Zhang Yimou, Yu Hewei, Zhou Ye, and others, embarked on a journey to South Korea.

This trip included not only the crew of "Cliff Walkers" but also the crew of Zhang Yimou's "One Second".

When the plane arrived at Busan Gimhae International Airport, the film crew was stunned by what they saw.

The arrival hall was packed with people, with countless fans holding up support signs and cameras, screaming Zhou Le's name.

The vast majority of them are young South Korean girls, and there are also quite a few Japanese and Southeast Asian faces.

Security personnel were on high alert and painstakingly cleared a passage.

"Zhou Le Oppa! Ah~"

"Zhou Le oppa, saranghae~!"

Zhou Le could barely understand some of the simpler things, but he couldn't understand most of them.

All you can see is that these people are fanatical.

There were all sorts of banners and flags with people writing their names on their chests, it was ridiculously crowded.

Shouts rose and fell, their enthusiasm far surpassing that of anyone else in their group.

But apart from these girls.

There are also some obvious esports fans.

Zhou Le maintained a smile, politely waving to his fans and occasionally saying "thank you" in Chinese.

Yu Hewei chuckled softly from the side, "Wow, Zhou Le, your international influence is impressive. This is a form of cultural export for us."

Zhou Ye hadn't expected this scene either: "Brother Le, your fans are even crazier than when people greet you at the airport in China." Zhou Le replied helplessly in a low voice: "I didn't expect this either... It's a bit exaggerated."

This frenzied scene of welcoming him at the airport was quickly reported back to China by the media, sparking another wave of pride among netizens who exclaimed, "When Brother Le goes to war, nothing will survive!"

"This is Brother Le's true strength. But it's just that we're not allowed to go within China." "Exactly, but it's better not to go. Going there will only cause trouble for Brother Le."

The group stayed at the Busan Paradise Hotel, arranged by the organizers.

Looking at the hotel's name, Zhou Le couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Busan Paradise Hotel... This name sounds weird, like it's designed to make you not want to leave once you've arrived."

Zhou Ye covered his mouth and chuckled.

The red carpet at the awards ceremony was dazzling with stars.

Zhou Le, dressed in a well-tailored Chinese-style stand-up collar suit, exuded an outstanding temperament and attracted countless flashes of light.

Many Korean celebrities also came over to say hello.

One of them, named Liu Yaren, also came over.

Zhou Le didn't recognize the actor; it was the first time he had met him.

But for some reason, upon their first meeting, seeing the other person's slightly gloomy eyes and somewhat tense facial features, Zhou Le inexplicably felt a sense of intuition.

This person is wicked and has a menacing appearance.

And I always feel like there's something wrong with my mental state.

"Mr. Zhou Le, I've long admired your name. Your film is truly excellent," Yoo Ah-in said in Korean, with a translator beside him.

"Thank you." Zhou Le nodded. Few people would make him feel this way. The only ones who had done so before were Kris and Li Yundi.

Liu Yaren smiled and extended an invitation: "After the awards ceremony tonight, there will be a small gathering, and many friends will be coming. I wonder if Mr. Zhou Le would be interested? We can make proper arrangements and make sure Mr. Zhou has a wonderful evening and experiences the warmth of our great Republic of South Korea."

Zhou Le declined with a smile almost without hesitation: "Thank you for the invitation, but our crew may have other plans tonight, so we won't bother you any longer."

He instinctively felt that this kind of gathering might not be so innocent and didn't want to get involved.

The atmosphere at the awards ceremony was solemn.

Zhou Le, Zhou Ye, and Yu Hewei sat together.

When the award for Best Film was presented, it was won by a Japanese film.

Yu Hewei said in a low voice, "It seems that Director Zhang will definitely win Best Director, so it's a good balance."

Zhou Le nodded: "We definitely have to secure Director Zhang's offer. To be honest, Director Zhang's presence is a great honor for the film festival."

As expected, the Best Director award was given to Zhang Yimou without any suspense, and the crew of "Cliff Walkers" cheered.

Next up is the competition for Best Actor.

The screen flashed images of the nominees one by one, including Zhou Le, an Indian actor, a veteran Japanese actor, and... Yoo Ah-in. When the presenter announced, "The winner is... Zhou Le! Cliff Walkers!" Zhou Le clearly saw Yoo Ah-in's face freeze instantly.

A flicker of disbelief and malice flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by formulaic applause.

Zhou Le calmly stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked onto the stage amidst applause from the audience.

He accepted the trophy from the presenter, stood in front of the microphone, and said in fluent Chinese:
"Thank you to the Asian Film Awards Academy, thank you to the jury. This award belongs to the entire team behind 'Cliff Walkers,' to director Zhang Yimou, to Mr. Yu Hewei and all the teachers who worked with me in the freezing cold. Thank you all, and thank you to all the audiences who support Chinese films."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping across the entire audience, his voice steady and powerful: "What I want to say is that good stories and good performances have no borders, but the people who tell these stories have their roots."

I am proud that I can use Chinese, our Chinese way and emotions, to interpret a character from our history and present it to audiences in Asia and around the world.

Film belongs to the world, but filmmakers have their country and home in their hearts. Thank you everyone!

The South Korean filmmakers sitting in the audience had different expressions, but they all undoubtedly felt what this young Chinese filmmaker wanted to express.

The Best New Actor award was subsequently presented, and Zhou Ye won it for his restrained yet powerful performance in "Cliff Walkers," defeating other nominees, including Liu Haocun, who was also highly regarded domestically.

The little girl's eyes welled up with tears, and her voice choked as she went on stage to receive the award.

In the subsequent performance segment, the organizers invited TWICE, a top girl group under the famous South Korean entertainment company JYP, to perform on stage.

The energetic singing and dancing instantly ignited the atmosphere.

However, when the song started, Zhou Le was surprised to find that the person surrounded by a group of beautiful young girls in the center of the stage was actually a middle-aged man wearing a shiny suit and dancing with great enthusiasm.

Zhou Leren was a little confused and whispered to Zhou Ye next to her, "This... in a girl group performance, why is there a guy standing in the center position? Is this right? What does this mean?"

Zhou Ye suppressed a laugh and explained in a low voice, "Brother Le, that's not a member, that's JYP's boss, Park Jin-young... He's just addicted, so he often goes up and sings a part of his own company's group's songs..."

Zhou Le was stunned by what he heard.

That's really awesome.

There are still plenty of witty and unconventional people out there.

A special award was presented at the end of the ceremony.

The highest-grossing Asian film of 2020 was the phenomenal Japanese animated film "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train".

That same evening after the awards ceremony, they joined Zhang Yimou for a formal networking dinner with some well-known directors and actors from South Korea.

During the meal, Zhou Le ran into Park Jin-young again.

The president was very enthusiastic and came over to offer a toast. He said in fairly fluent English, "Mr. Zhou Le, congratulations on winning the award! Your speech was excellent! I have a small private gathering tomorrow at noon. I'd like to have a simple meal and chat with you and some friends. I'd really like to make friends with you. Would you do me the honor?"

Zhou Le learned that Park Jin-young had a good reputation in the industry and was relatively friendly towards Chinese culture, unlike some people who were prejudiced against him.

Considering the possibility of future cooperation, he readily agreed after a moment's thought: "Thank you for the invitation, President Park. I am honored."

The next day at noon, Zhou Le went to a private room at a high-end Korean set meal restaurant as agreed.

Pushing open the door, I discovered that besides Park Jin-young, several other members of TWICE were also present, each dressed exquisitely and sexily.

Zhou Le's heart skipped a beat, his brows furrowed slightly, and his first thought was of the Korean escort service.

After all, the class system and darkness here are notorious.

Park Jin-young seemed to sense his doubts and immediately stood up to greet him warmly, explaining in English: "Mr. Zhou Le, please don't misunderstand. I, Park Jin-young, would never do such a thing. These kids are all your fans. They heard you were coming and really wanted to meet you and get to know Asia's rising star."

I'm just providing the setting. What they want to talk about with you is entirely their prerogative, and I will never interfere.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Le's expression softened slightly, and he responded in English: "I see. Thank you for your trouble, President Park. This is good. We can communicate naturally. I think so too."

Although he said that, he remained vigilant.

Sure enough, after he sat down, the girl group members were very proactive and enthusiastic, surrounding him with all sorts of questions, from movies to music. Some even praised him for being handsome in broken Chinese, their eyes revealing undisguised affection, and their body language also trying to get closer.

Zhou Le maintained a polite yet distant smile throughout, responding appropriately.

When a member tried to pour him another drink and hinted that they could continue their conversation that night, even joking that the girls could drink with him, Zhou Le's smile faded.

He gently covered the rim of the glass with his hand, but in a straightforward yet courteous manner, and then said in clear Chinese, "Thank you all for your kind offer, but let's stop here for drinks. I have work scheduled for tomorrow. If you'd like to discuss art, you're welcome to join me. We can chat like friends."

After saying that, he stood up abruptly and moved to the seat next to Park Jin-young, creating a noticeable distance between himself and the girls.

The atmosphere was a little awkward for a while.

Although it did smell really good, Zhou Le was hesitant to touch it.

Seeing this, Park Jin-young immediately burst into laughter and tried to smooth things over. He said a few words to the members in Korean, probably telling them to be mindful of their behavior, and then turned to chat with Zhou Le about serious topics such as music creation and the film market.

Zhou Le then smoothly transitioned the conversation to a more professional topic.

The meal ended in a relatively normal atmosphere.

Park Jin-young personally escorted Zhou Le back to his hotel.

After all, he was well aware of the situation here; JYP Entertainment was the third largest company after YG and SM.

Therefore, he was really worried about letting Zhou Le return to the hotel alone. (End of Chapter)